CONTRACT: Midfielder signs one-year deal

Carlisle United have today agreed a one-year deal (with an option) in principle with midfielder Joe McKee which keeps him at Brunton Park until at least the summer of 2017.

Glasgow-born McKee, 23, started life in football as a youngster with Dundee United and joined Livingston as a 13-year-old in 2005. He progressed to sign a full-time contract at Almondvale before moving to join Owen Coyle at Burnley in 2009.

He featured regularly in the Premier Reserve League for the Clarets and signed his first professional deal with the club in 2011. He spent four months on loan at St Mirren between August and December of that year and joined Bolton Wanderers on a one-year deal when his contract at Turf Moor drew to a close.

A successful move to Scottish Championship outfit Greenock Morton followed and he scored eight goals in over 75 appearances in his three seasons at Cappielow Park, which included a promotion winning season into the Scottish Championship in 2014/15.

Manager Keith Curle said: “He’s a player we’ve monitored for a couple of years now. He’s had a really good season in Scotland and that confirmed to us that he was a player we wanted to pursue.

"He doesn’t want to come here just to be a squad player. What we want this season, and it’s what we had last season, is real competition for places. He will provide something different and add a bit of flair in a key area.

"Through the meetings we've had with him we've seen a real determination to succeed and there is a hunger there where we know he wants to be involved and playing for this football club.

"We're looking forward to working with him and we're pleased that we've got this one over the line."